Not completely relevant but I’ve already used “She Works Hard for the Money”.  Enjoy Vanessa Williams’ “Work to Do”

Vodpod videos no longer available.

For nearly 3 1/2 years, I’ve had two jobs.  When I moved to Austin to accept an entry level position in the communications field, I was making less than 30K.  It was a respectable income but not feasible to cover my monthly bills, student loan, credit card debt and new car note.  So two months into the new gig, I went in search of part-time additional income.  In hindsight, making that decision should’ve been difficult but I thought it was only going to be for a year or so.  I was young, had no family, dog or other responsibilities.  I could handle it.

At a friend’s suggestion, I applied for a position with a high-end brand I’d never heard of.  Forgive me, oh fashionable ones, but I’d never heard of Theory.  I never lived in a city that had an independent store and Neiman and Saks were not (and still aren’t) stores I frequent.  I admittedly have a shopping problem.  But (before Theory) I shopped for style, comfort and price, not so much any of that WITH brand name.  Paying $60 for a pair of jeans that fit perfectly was unheard of, let alone $250 for a pair of dress pants.

Despite the high price-point and occassional entitled customer (refer to the Retail Etiquette post), I’ve loved my time at Theory.  I met some wonderful women (and a couple men), found a life outside of my 9-5, made an exta few hundred dollars every month and now my closet (sadly) is now probably 45% Theory.  I have a new appreciation for paying a little (or a lot, if not on sale) more for quality.  Although, I also recognize that not all things expensive are high quality.  Sometimes you just need a Hanes white tee.

Now what am I going to do?  For more than 3 years, I have not had weekends.  I mean they came around every week but I was still working.  Mon-Fri I was at a desk, writing press releases, calling media, monitoring news.  Sat-Sun, I trolled cement floors in a sparse retail store folding, straightening, helping half-naked customers in the fitting rooms and trying on clothes when we were slow.  While I rarely enjoyed a day off, the work was easy and the people were cool.

For the first 6 months, I didn’t do anything.  I was always afraid I’d be tired.  I DID have to work the next day afterall.  I worked every day.  After a while, though, I just gave up.  If I wanted to go out, I just went.  It’s not like I was going to have a day off.  So why not just claim the night and pay the price in the morning?  Plus, I wasn’t alone.  Weekends are weekends.  Since it was retail, the ladies I worked with might have had days off but they weren’t always the weekend.  I can’t even tell you how many times one or more of us came in hungover and/or exhausted.  It just became a running joke.  As long as you were able to do your job, what’s the harm?

Working 7 days a week is not for everyone.  And to be perfectly honest, I can’t say that it was for me.  While in high school, I remember working with a lady who had two jobs.  I thought she was crazy.  I mean I understood the need and/or desire for more money but two jobs just seemed so extreme.  She’d work nights and weekends.  Plus, she was a adult, probably had bills, had a son.  I was 17 and really didn’t understand.  However, after 3 1/2 years, I now get it.  You can do just about anything.  You just have to force yourself to start and treat it as a given in your life.  People always asked me why/how I could do it.  There was never a good answer.  I just did.  You just do.  (Plus, I got used to the additional income.  Over 3 years, my income increased by nearly 40%.  But those extra couple hundred every month were difficult to give up.  I told myself I could pay down my debt faster when in fact, I just maintained my debt and grew my closet. Tsk tsk.)

Since August 2006, 7 days a week was my schedule.  Now, after approaching burnout and finally putting in my notice, I’m officially done.  I clocked out on Sunday for the last time.  While I’m pretty strong and difficult, it was a little sad.  I think the pure exhaustin of the last few months has really caught up with me.  I hugged the ladies goodbye and enjoyed my going away cookie cake but I don’t think it’s completely hit me.  I imagine by February, my emotions will catch up and I’ll really be sad.  Until then, I’ll just have to figure out how to prevent my dog from waking me up on Saturday mornings so I can sleep in past 9 am.

Losing the excuse not to have a life outside of work.  Already missing the paychecks but expecting to spend less money,

Jo’van

December 1, 2009
Categories: Quarterlife Crisis, Whole Truth, The . Tags: 7 days a week, buring out, coworkers, customers, employees, exhaustin, extra income, high-end, no time off, no weekends, part-time, paycheck, pr, price point, putting in my notice, retail, saying goodbye, second job, Theory, two jobs, weekends, working . Author: tjovand . Comments: 1 Comment